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1 – 10 of over 1000
Article
Publication date: 1 October 2006

Kanayo Umeh and Lucy Crabtree

The purpose of this paper is to assess the utility of rationalistic constructs for predicting fruit and vegetable intake in children. It was hypothesised that children's gain‐loss…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the utility of rationalistic constructs for predicting fruit and vegetable intake in children. It was hypothesised that children's gain‐loss evaluations will predict their stage of uptake irrespective of important additional variables.

Design/methodology/approach

Over 200 pupils from a Derbyshire secondary school completed a cross‐sectional questionnaire assessing stages‐of‐change (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance), gain‐loss considerations, prior consumption, self‐efficacy, and attitude.

Findings

Discriminant function analysis revealed self‐efficacy, attitude, and previous consumption as significant predictors of group membership for both fruit and vegetable intake. Group centroids indicated clear separation of earlier from later stages, and transitional from other stages. Gain‐loss appraisals failed to predict stage membership. Finally, 63.4 and 59.1 per cent of original grouped cases for vegetable and fruit consumption, respectively, were correctly classified. However, classification accuracy varied across stages.

Research limitations/implications

The sample was predominantly Caucasian and from a suburban area. Thus, the generality of these findings to children from other demographics is unclear.

Practical implications

Interventions promoting fruit/vegetable intake in children may lack efficacy if they emphasise possible outcomes (e.g. benefits) associated with eating these foods. Modifying opinions and suggesting easier ways to increase consumption may achieve better results.

Originality/value

Previous research has demonstrated the importance of gain‐loss considerations in adult's stage of fruit/vegetable intake. The current paper extends this literature to children; it appears rationalistic constructs play a negligible role in children when considered within the context of other variables.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 108 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 August 2012

B. Franchini, R. Poínhos, K. Klepp and M.D.V. de Almeida

This paper's aim is to assess vegetable soup intake and its contribution to total vegetable intake among mothers of Portuguese schoolchildren as well as to examine the association…

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper's aim is to assess vegetable soup intake and its contribution to total vegetable intake among mothers of Portuguese schoolchildren as well as to examine the association between relative vegetable soup intake and sociodemographic characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross‐sectional survey was carried out in Portugal as part of the Pro Children study. In total 1,673 women, mothers of 11‐13 year old children, took part in the study. The vegetable intake and sociodemographic characteristics were collected with a self‐administered questionnaire in which a precoded 24‐hour recall was applied. The analysed sociodemographic characteristics were the number of people and composition of household, educational level, social class and region of residence. The associations between preferential or exclusive consumer mothers of vegetable soup (i.e. ≥50 per cent of total vegetable intake) and sociodemographic characteristics were analysed by a logistic regression model.

Findings

The mean intake of vegetable soup was 76.1 g/d and its contribution to total vegetable intake was approximately 45 per cent. The percentage of mothers that were preferential or exclusive consumers of vegetable soup was 41 per cent. Preferential or exclusive vegetable soup intake was less likely among mothers when the number of people in the household was less than four (vs 4; OR: 0.734, 95 per cent CI: 0.577‐0.934) and that did not live with their spouse/partner (OR: 0.617, 95 per cent CI: 0.424‐0.878).

Originality/value

The paper focuses on the consumption of vegetable soup, a traditional culinary preparation among Portuguese people. Also, it identifies factors associated with its consumption.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 114 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 December 2019

Shadi Ariyanfar, Soodeh Razeghi Jahromi, Nasim Rezaeimanesh, Mansoureh Togha, Zeinab Ghorbani, Ebrahim Khadem, Milad Ghanaatgar, Morvarid Noormohammadi and Zahra Torkan

Diet is recognized as a possible potential factor in migraine pathogenesis. Limited evidence exists on the effect of diet on pediatric migraine, so this paper aims to investigate…

Abstract

Purpose

Diet is recognized as a possible potential factor in migraine pathogenesis. Limited evidence exists on the effect of diet on pediatric migraine, so this paper aims to investigate the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and odds of migraine in children.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a case-control study in tertiary Sina hospital, Tehran, Iran. A hundred children with migraine as case group and 190 sex-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Definite diagnosis of migraine was based on 2018 international classification of headache disorder 3 (ICHD3) criteria. Demographic and anthropometric characteristics were collected. Common dietary intake of participants was obtained using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.

Findings

Children in the migraine group had significantly higher BMI and age compared with the control group (p-value = <0.01). After adjustment for age, gender, BMI and total energy intake, a significant association between higher intake of vegetables in second tertile (OR: 0.47; CI: 0.24-0.92), fruits in third tertile (OR: 0.31; CI:0.14-0.69) and fiber in fourth quartile (OR:0.28; CI:0.095-0.85) was obtained. Controlling for all confounders in Model 3, the odds of migraine, decreased by 50 per cent and 70 per cent as the consumption of vegetables and fruits increased, in the second tertile of vegetables (p-value = 0.04) and the third tertile of fruits (p-value = <0.01).

Originality/value

The findings confirm a plausible protective role of dietary fruits and vegetables against the risk of migraine in children, which can be attributed to the probable effect of dietary fiber.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science , vol. 50 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 April 2016

Silke Mittmann, Anja Austel and Thomas Ellrott

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of the Cancer Society of Lower Saxony’s school-based nutrition education programme “5-a-day for kids”, designed to increase…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of the Cancer Society of Lower Saxony’s school-based nutrition education programme “5-a-day for kids”, designed to increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption. Intervention: the programme included three parts (each 45 minutes): education-based classroom session; food knowledge in a local supermarket; and practical vegetable snack preparation. Additional promoting information materials for parents were provided.

Design/methodology/approach

A pre-/post-test research design was used for the evaluation. In total, 1,376 pupils (age 7-14, 51 per cent female), their parents and 69 teachers of 35 schools in Lower Saxony participated in the study. The fruit and vegetable intake was measured with the KiGGS-Food Frequency Questionnaire.

Findings

A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to determine the change in fruit and vegetable consumption over three measurements (baseline, one month, three months). No significant positive effect of the intervention was observed with the applied method for the daily intake of fruit and vegetables, neither at month 1 nor at month 3.

Research limitations/implications

A 135 min school-based intervention does not seem to increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption. To enhance its effectiveness, the programme may be improved by adding a longitudinal classroom component, extensive parental involvement and/or distribution of free fruit/vegetables every day.

Originality/value

This is the first evaluation of a 5-a-day-intervention in Germany.

Details

Health Education, vol. 116 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-4283

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 September 2006

P. Mullie, P. Clarys, D. De Ridder, P. Deriemaeker, N. Duvigneaud, M. Hebbelinck, A.R. Grivegnée and P. Autier

Several cross‐sectional studies reported that breakfast skipping and a poor consumption of fruits and vegetables are associated with overweight and obesity‐related morbidities. In…

1269

Abstract

Purpose

Several cross‐sectional studies reported that breakfast skipping and a poor consumption of fruits and vegetables are associated with overweight and obesity‐related morbidities. In this respect healthy eating habits such as regular breakfast and a sufficient intake of fruit and vegetables are two important items to prevent childhood and adolescent obesity. The purpose of this study is to determine the breakfast frequency and the fruit and vegetable consumption in Belgian adolescents.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross‐sectional study using pupils contacted by nurses in schools during an information session about female hygiene. On that occasion all pupils (boys and girls) completed a questionnaire concerning their eating habits. Subjects were boys (n = 1390) and girls (n = 3610) between 12 and 15 years of age from the main three educational programmes (general, technical and occupational programme).

Findings

Socio‐economic status significantly influenced breakfast frequency with differences between the highest educational programme (general) and the lower technical‐ and occupational programmes. The use of daily breakfast was respectively 67 versus 49 and 48 per cent for the boys and 60 versus 42 and 39 per cent for the girls). For both sexes breakfast frequency decreased when comparing age groups from 12 with 15 years of age respectively from 67 to 55 per cent for the boys and from 61 to 47 per cent for the girls. Half of the subjects who declared to have overweight (self‐image) did not take breakfast at a regular base. Twenty six per cent of the boys of the French speaking part and 19 per cent of the boys of the Flemish speaking part of Belgium declared to take only one or less than one portion of fruit and/or vegetables a day. For the girls the reported intake of one or less than one portion of fruit and/or vegetables was respectively 20 and 16 per cent. Only 13 per cent of the French speaking boys and 10 per cent of the Flemish speaking boys reported an intake of four or more fruits and/or vegetables a day. The percentage of girls reaching an intake of four or more a day was 15 per cent for the two language regions. Fruit and/or vegetable intake was influenced significantly by the educational programme and by the educational level of the mother. In conclusion, healthy eating habits among girls and boys in Belgium (as estimated by breakfast frequency and fruit and/or vegetable intake) are rather poor. These habits are influenced by age, educational programme, self‐image and educational level of the mother.

Originality/value

In the light of these findings action should be taken to improve the eating habits among Belgian children to prevent childhood obesity.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science, vol. 36 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 November 2014

Melanie Pescud and Simone Pettigrew

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the practice of hiding vegetables among low socioeconomic parents.

507

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the practice of hiding vegetables among low socioeconomic parents.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative longitudinal study involving 37 low socioeconomic Australian parents with at least one overweight or obese child aged five to nine years. Data were obtained with the use of interviews, focus groups, and self-introspections.

Findings

Identified issues relating to the practice of hiding vegetables included: how parents manage hiding vegetables, children's presence in the kitchen during vegetable preparation, the employment of deception when hiding vegetables, the use of cookbooks and blogs, and the alternative views of parents not strongly in favour of hiding vegetables.

Research limitations/implications

Hiding vegetables is a practice used by some parents to increase their children's vegetable intake. Children who are unaware of hidden vegetables in their meals are potentially missing the opportunity to develop an appreciation for vegetables and learn about vegetable preparation and cooking.

Practical implications

The findings are relevant to dietitians, general practitioners, and other health professionals providing advice to parents on appropriate child-feeding strategies.

Originality/value

This appears to be the first study to provide an in-depth account of low socioeconomic parents’ use of hiding vegetables to facilitate higher levels of vegetable consumption.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 116 no. 12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 April 2017

Emma Dresler, Dean Whitehead and Aimee Mather

It is known that the consumption of fruits and vegetables in children is declining despite wide-spread national and international policy attempts to increase consumption. The…

Abstract

Purpose

It is known that the consumption of fruits and vegetables in children is declining despite wide-spread national and international policy attempts to increase consumption. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the experiences of children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables so as to facilitate better health education targeting.

Design/methodology/approach

In this qualitative descriptive exploratory study, peer group interviews were undertaken with 18 girls and 18 boys, aged 8-11, from schools in the Manawatu region of New Zealand.

Findings

The results show that children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables is dependent on balancing risk and reward. Children know and understand the importance of eating fruits and vegetables; however, the perceived risks are typically the prevailing determinant of consumption. These perceived risks often stem from children’s uncertainty about whether the fruits and vegetables will meet the child’s sensory preferences. To mitigate the risks perceived in eating fruits and vegetables, children employ a range of avoidance strategies.

Originality/value

This study’s results indicate that a model of “associated” risk is a valuable tool to explain children’s fruit and vegetable consumption and preference behaviour and to assist in the development of future health education intervention campaigns.

Details

Health Education, vol. 117 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-4283

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 November 2018

Ruth Chan, Suey Yeung, Cynthia Leung, Sing Kai Lo and Sandra Tsang

The purpose of this paper is to examine the association of various family factors with children’s fruit and vegetable (FV) intake.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the association of various family factors with children’s fruit and vegetable (FV) intake.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional analysis of data from 601 parent-child dyads with children aged three to six years old was conducted. Parents completed questionnaires on child’s FV intake, parenting styles, parental feeding practices, family functioning, television viewing at mealtimes and frequency of family meals. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between various family factors and the likelihood of meeting the child’s daily FV recommendation with adjustment for different demographic variables.

Findings

Multivariate model adjusting for sociodemographic data indicated that meeting vegetable recommendation was associated with lower frequency of dining with grandparents (Odds ratio (OR) 0.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89–0.99, p=0.031) and positively associated with parents using more desirable parental feeding practices (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.09–1.21, p<0.001). Meeting fruit recommendation was associated with parents using more desirable parental feeding practices (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.09–1.17, p<0.001), higher frequency of dining with grandparents (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00–1.10, p=0.041), lower frequency of dining with father (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.82–0.98, p=0.014) and higher score on authoritative parenting style (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01–1.08, p=0.009).

Originality/value

This study highlights the potential protective roles of various family factors, in particular authoritative parenting style and parental feeding practices, such as role modeling, moderate restrictive practices for less healthy foods, avoidance of forced feeding, and not using junk food as reward in relation to meeting FV recommendation in children. The role of grandparents in influencing the young children’s eating behaviors within the Chinese family warrants further investigation.

Details

Journal of Children's Services, vol. 13 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-6660

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 September 2006

Evelien Reinaerts, Jascha de Nooijer, Angélique van de Kar and Nanne de Vries

The purpose of this research is to explore individual and social factors that are associated with children's F&V (fruit and vegetable) intake in order to develop a school‐based…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to explore individual and social factors that are associated with children's F&V (fruit and vegetable) intake in order to develop a school‐based intervention to increase their F&V consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

Group interviews were conducted with ten groups of Dutch children (n=104), aged 4‐12 years, and two groups of parents (n=28). Additionally, a total of ten parents participated in an interview by telephone. Opinions about the actual F&V consumption, awareness of consumption patterns, attitudes towards F&V, promotion of F&V consumption by parents and F&V intake at school were explored. Transcripts were analysed using Nvivo 2.0.

Findings

Several factors that are likely to increase F&V consumption of the participants were identified, such as preferences, modeling of F&V consumption by teachers and parents and availability of F&V in ready‐to‐eat form at home and school. Although both children and parents favoured activities to promote F&V at school, most parents were not willing to participate in these activities.

Research limitations/implications

The present study obtains information from a broad perspective, and not from a representative sample.

Practical implications

This article is a useful source for health promotion planners that are developing food‐related interventions for children.

Originality/value

Information on factors that influence children's F&V consumption is usually acquired through parents. It is questionable whether parents are aware of the factors that influence their children's food choice. Therefore this study combined information gathered among parents with information gathered directly among children.

Details

Health Education, vol. 106 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-4283

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 December 2019

Effat Hatefnia, Esmat Hossini and Mitra Rahimzadeh

Using the PRECEDE model, the purpose of this paper is to determine the predictors of mothers’ performance in daily consumption of fruit and vegetables (FV) in rural preschoolers.

Abstract

Purpose

Using the PRECEDE model, the purpose of this paper is to determine the predictors of mothers’ performance in daily consumption of fruit and vegetables (FV) in rural preschoolers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was carried out on 350 mothers of preschool children who had health records in the rural health-care centers of Iran. To collect data, a researcher-made questionnaire based on the PRECEDE model was used. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 19 software.

Findings

The results showed that 11.42 percent of the mothers observed the FV intake for their children recommended by WHO. The independent t-test showed a significant difference between the mean scores of predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors.

Originality/value

This study showed that the rate of FV intake by preschool children in rural areas was much lower than the recommended WHO rate. To promote behavior, attention to the predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors seems to be necessary.

Details

Health Education, vol. 120 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-4283

Keywords

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